China Is Trying to Meddle in 2018 Elections

Trump says Beijing doesn't want him or the Republicans "to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade".

Comments made by the president have fuelled speculation about the level of his commitment to a two-state solution, which past U.S. governments have advocated since the peace process began in the 1990s.

Trump's optimism that he'd be the one to end the decades-old conflict came days after the USA took a hardline approach to the Palestinian government, shutting down its mission in Washington until the PLO agrees to negotiate directly with the Israelis.

The U.S.' exchange with China comes as a trade war between the two nations intensified. USA tariffs have targeted Chinese goods ranging from handbags to toilet paper, while China has hit at US products from soybean and corn to whiskey and cars.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2018 in NY. "We refuse to accept any unwarranted accusations against China".

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that "China has all along followed the principle of non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs".

He also called upon other countries to observe the same principle, citing the United Nations charter.

This week, the USA imposed further tariffs on $200billion of Chinese-made goods, prompting Beijing to levy retaliatory taxes on $60billion worth of American products.

Mr Trump touted the "wonderful relationship" he has with Mr Kim on Wednesday, and teased details that a second summit between the two men could be released soon.

"We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election", said Trump, who is attending the UN's annual gathering of world leaders. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.

But Trump's comments Wednesday seem to confirm that China is actively interfering now. Recently, Trump also tweeted that the Chinese government's tariffs are meant to "impact and change our election" by "attacking our farmers, ranchers, and industrial workers".

The Middle East peace process has effectively been stalled since the Palestinians broke off contacts with the Trump administration past year in protest at the USA president's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.

All of those sanctions will be "in full force by early November", Trump said.

A representative from China who attended the meeting could be seen coughing into his hand and shrugging as the president spoke.

The president also condemned violence in the ongoing bloody civil war in Syria, saying that the "butchery is enabled by Russian Federation and Iran".

While he thanked the trinity for "substantially slowing down their attack on Idlib province", he warned: "Get the terrorists, but I hope the restraint continues".

Meanwhile, Beijing has accused Washington of attempting to "blackmail" China by using tariffs.

Despite his tough talk, Trump said he could envision relations with Iran moving along a similar "trajectory" as ones with North Korea. But in that speech, too, he also called out China for its economic practices.